5 Questions to Ask a Private Caregiver

Known as “aging in place,” this trend speaks to seniors’ desire to keep the comforts of their familiar environment, even as their condition becomes less comfortable.

If your parents or loved ones are in this situation, you may wonder how to find the right kind of care for them. Over time, their medical needs may necessitate the services of an in-home, private caregiver.

When this is the case, you naturally want someone trustworthy, caring, and competent. Yet, how can you discern all of those traits during an interview?

Today, we’re discussing five key questions to ask any potential caregiver before you hire one. By following this guide, you can rest assured that you’ve found the best fit for your family.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.

1. How Are You Qualified?

Before you can see if a private caregiver is a good fit personality-wise, you want to weed out any that aren’t professionally qualified or certified to look after your loved one.

Ask each prospect to describe his or her educational background and work experience. If you need the caregiver to be specialized in a particular field, such as Alzheimer’s care or wheelchair support, ask about this as well.

Each prospect should come equipped with a resume tailored to the role and should be able to speak clearly and confidently on any question that you ask on this topic.

Hiring someone with solid credentials isn’t just smart business sense. It can also mean the difference in the level of care your loved ones receive.

For instance, in a recent blog on the topic, Atlas Chiropractic points out that dizziness and vertigo aren’t always the same thing. Trained caregivers will be able to assess the symptoms and make the best treatment choice based on their professional expertise.

2. How Will You Get Here?

The last thing you need is a private caregiver who you aren’t sure will show up for work.

Elderly care is incredibly time-sensitive. A caregiver who is late by even a few minutes could put your loved one in a critically vulnerable position.

Before hiring someone, check that he or she has a valid driver’s license and a reliable means of transportation. Each prospect should also carry auto insurance. You should be confident that, barring any emergencies, the caregiver will be on time, every time.

While you’re on this subject, ask about how much vacation time the interviewee is planning to request. Someone who frequently takes two-week cruises will likely be unable to provide the consistent, reliable support you need. Having this conversation at the onset can help you avoid any surprise requests for time off in the future.

3. How Do You Handle Challenging Clients?

It’s important to also gauge the personality of the private caregiver you are interviewing. While this can be difficult to ascertain in an interview setting, there are a few key questions you can ask to pivot the conversation.

Ask your prospect, “Can you tell me about a time you had a particularly challenging client? How did you respond and what was the outcome?”

You can also ask, “Is there a time that you made a mistake when caring for a patient? What was it and how did you remedy the situation?”

These answers can shed tons of light on the caregiver’s character and temperament. If they begin going off on a tirade about a difficult client, it could be a sign that they have a hard time reeling in their emotions.

Likewise, if they can’t think of a time they messed up or don’t want to talk about it, they could be hiding something important (that you need to know about).

You want someone who is calm and level-headed, and able to approach even the toughest situation with confidence. Hearing about the lowest point a caregiver has experienced is a window into how he or she will navigate the hills and valleys of in-home care.

4. Will You Submit to a Background Check?

It goes without saying that you don’t want a convicted criminal spending a majority of the day and night with your parents or loved ones. Caregiver theft is a very real issue, and if you don’t do your due diligence, you could put your family members in a risky and dangerous situation.

Don’t wait until you catch a dishonest caregiver on a home security camera rummaging through your loved one’s jewelry box. Determine up-front if there are any red flags.

Ask about each caregiver’s background and require a list of references. From there, call all former employers. Ask about the prospect’s performance while on the job and if they’d recommend them to fill your position.

Then, partner with a qualified and reputable agency to perform a background check on your candidate. This is one area you don’t want to scrimp on or skip over.

5. What Are Your Goals as a Private Caregiver?

You want to invest in a private caregiver who is in this for the long haul. It’s unrealistic to expect that the person you hire will be in that same position for the entirety of your loved one’s life. However, you at least don’t want someone who will jump ship in six months for a better offer.

Ask each prospect what their goals are. Are they studying to be a CNA or RN, and plan to move into a hospital setting in the next few years? Or, do they love the caregiver industry and want to make this a long-term career?

Either way, it’s important to know what to expect, timeline-wise. If your caregiver makes it clear that he or she is only doing this for a short while, or for some extra money, the level of care might not be up to par.

Find the Perfect Fit for Your Family’s Care

When searching for the best private caregiver for your aging loved ones, you want the very best. You need someone who you trust to enter their home, administer care, and respond to their needs as quickly and effectively as possible.

That’s why this decision isn’t one to take lightly or enter into quickly.

By taking the time to thoroughly interview each prospect, you can learn which ones fit the bill. The right match is out there waiting, but you have to know the right questions to ask!

For more advice on how to make the best decisions in your professional and personal life, feel free to check out our blog. We’ll do the legwork so you can do the homework, and it all starts with taking that first step!